Badgers impress Walker

MADISON, Wis. — Northwestern coach Randy Walker gave credit to Wisconsin for its 24-12 victory over his Wildcats. But the might-have-beens were difficult to swallow.

Northwestern had chances on offense and defense to take a game away from a Wisconsin team that suddenly was wobbling in the fourth quarter.

Aside from the Wildcats' poor offensive execution, the Badgers battered the defense for 208 rushing yards and 386 overall.

"Their offense is getting better and better," Walker said. "They're improving week by week and their offense, as we all know, is just a rolling barrel of butcher knives."

Extra points

Brett Basanez moved into second place all-time in passing yards for Northwestern with his 29-yard touchdown pass to Mark Philmore in the third quarter. Basanez finished with 185 yards for the game, giving him 5,891 for his career and ranking behind only Len Williams' 7,487. Basanez's 16 completions moved him past Zak Kustok into third all-time with 513. . . . Noah Herron's 114 rushing yards made him the first player to rush for 100 yards against Wisconsin since Freddie Russell of Iowa at the end of the 2003 season. . . .

Northwestern lost safety Dominique Price with a stinger. Linebacker Nick Roach , the team's leader in tackles for loss and sacks, sustained a mild concussion in practice last week, started Saturday but was dinged again and left in the first half. Defensive end David Ngene injured his right ankle in the second quarter and was forced to leave the lineup.